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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. F. TORREY &'J. LA SHA. GAME COUNTER AND REGISTER FOR POOLTABLES.

No. 501,632. Patented July 18, 1893.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheath L. F. TORREY 80 J. LA 'SH'A. GAME COUNTERAND REGISTER FOR POOL TABLES.

No. 501,632. Patented July 18,1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI F. TORREY AND JEROME LA SHA, OF SYRACUSE, NElV YORK, ASSIGNORS TOMARGARET TORREY AND SALINA LA SHA, OF SAME PLACE.

GAME COUNTER AND REGISTER FOR POOL-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,682, dated July 18,1893.

Application filed July 20, 1892. $erial No. 440,667. (No model.)

T at whom it 11mg concern.-

Be it known that we, LEVI F. TORREY and J EROME LA SHA, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and Stateof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pool-Tables,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a registering device for pool tables wherebythe balls made to by each player and the number of games are registered.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a pool table provided with ourimprovements. r5 Fig. 2is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the registering mechanism and the front end of the pool table.Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section in line 03-00, Fig. 3; Figs. 5and 6 are horizontal sections in lines y-y and zz,

Fig. 3 respectively. Figs. '7 and 8 are fragmentary vertical sections,on an enlarged scale, in lines 'vv, and ww, Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is afragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the side portionof the pool table and the ball track. Like letters of reference refer tolike parts in the several figures.

A represents the pool table provided with go the usual side pockets at,front corner pockets at and rear corner pockets a The pockets on eachlongitudinal side of the pool table, comprising a front corner pocket, arear corner pocket and a side pocket, are connected 3 5 bya track orconveyer B which inclines from the rear end to the front end of thetable. These tracks are arranged lengthwise underneath the longitudinalside rails b of the table and are preferably composed of lon- 4ogitudinal bottom and side wires 1) b and transverse brackets b securedto the wires b b and the adjacent portion of the table, as representedin Figs. 1, 2 and 9. The front ends of the tracks extend inwardly acrossthe front end of the table and form chutes O which incline from theirouter to their inner ends. When a ball is shot into any one of thepockets, it will be conducted to the front end of the table by thetracks and their chutes.

D represents the inclosing case of the ball registering mechanism whichconsists essentially of front and rear walls d (7/, side walls (Z andinclined bottom portions (Z extending inwardly from the lower ends ofthe side walls and separated at their inner ends to form an opening (1in the bottom of the case D. The upper end of the case D is providedwith a contracted portion forming a channel E which connects the chutesof both ball tracks.

6 represents a horizontal shifting board upon which the balls aredeposited by the tracks and chutes. This board forms the bottom of thechannel E and is supported with its end portions in slides 6' formedupon the upperends of the side walls underneath the inner ends of thechutes. The shifting board is provided at its middle with a dependingtube 6 through which the ballsdrop into the registering case D.

F represents a series of ratchet wheels, preferably four in number,which are arranged in a horizontal row between the front wall of thecase D and the delivery tube. Each of these ratchet wheels is providedwith an outer row of ratchet teeth f on its periphery and an inner rowof ratchet teeth f on its rear face at right angles to the peripheralrow of ratchet teeth. The ratchet wheels are secured to short horizontalshafts g which are jonrnaled in the front wall of the case D. Each ofthese shafts g is provided at its front end with a pointer g, whichtraverses a dial 9 secured to the front side of the case D. Each ofthese dials is provided with an annular row of numbers from 0 to 15. Thedial and its pointer are preferably inclosed by a case g having a glassfront g*.

H represents a trip lever whereby the ratchet wheels are rotated forregistering the balls made by each player. This trip lever is pivoted tothe front side of the delivery tube and projects horizontally with itsrear arm it through a slot 7t into the delivery tube. The front arm 7L2of the trip lever is provided with a pawl 7L3 which is adapted to engagewith the inner rows f of teeth on the ratchet wheels. Each ball whichdrops through the delivery tube depresses the rear arm of the triplever, thereby raising the front arm and rotating the ratchet wheel andmoving the pointer connected therewith ahead one numher. The trip leveris returned to its normal position by a spring h secured with its endsto the delivery tube and the front arm of the trip lever. The pawl ofthe trip lever can be engaged with any of the ratchet wheels by shiftingthe shifting board and the delivery tube. For this purpose the shiftingboard is provided on its front side with a handle 1 which is pivoted tothe board with its rear end, while its front end passes through thehorizontal slot 2' formed in the front wall of the case D. The lowerside of the slot 2' is provided with a number of notches t", Fig. 4, inwhich the handle I engages and thereby holds the shifting board againstlengthwise movement when the pawl of the trip lever is in engagementwith one of the ratchet wheels.

J represents a guide rod whereby the pawl of the trip lever is guidedfrom one ratchet wheel to another. This guide rod is arranged lengthwisein rear of the ratchet wheels and is secured with its ends to the sidewalls of the case D. The guide rod is bent to form alternately straightor rear portionsj and indented or front portions j. The indentedportions are arranged in rear of those portions of the ratchet wheelswith which the actuating pawl engages, as represented in Fig. 5. hen itis desired to shift the trip lever to another ratchet wheel, the handleI is raised to disengage it from the notch tcorresponding with theratchet wheel with which the pawl is in engagement and is then movedlengthwise in the slot t'until it stands over the notch i correspondingwith the ratchet wheel of the indicator, which is to be engaged. Whenthe pawl of the trip lever is in engagement with one of the ratchetwheels, the indentation j of the guide rod clears the pawl and the roddoes not interfere with its operation. Upon shifting the delivery tubeand the shifting board, the pawl of the trip lever comes in contact withthe rearwardly trending portion of the indentation of the guide rod andis swung backwardly and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel andheld in this position by the straight part of the guide rod until thepawl has reached a position opposite the inner teeth of the next ratchetwheel, when the pawl is permitted to drop forward by the nextindentation j and engage with the said teeth.

K represents detent pawls which engage with the outer teeth of theratchet wheels and hold the same against backward movement. The detentpawls are pivoted to the rear side of the front wall of the case D andprovided with upwardly projecting ears 7t.

7t" represents a shifting rod whereby the detent pawls aresimultaneously disengaged from the ratchet wheels. This shifting rod isarranged lengthwise above the ratchet wheels and provided with dependinglugs k which engage against one side of the ears on the detent pawls.The shifting rod passes with its end portions through openings in theside Walls of the ease and is supported therein. One end of the shiftingrod is provided with a handle for shifti ng therod to disengage thedetent pawls. The opposite end of the shifting rod is surrounded by aspring Z bearing with its ends against the side wall of the case D and acollar Z formed on the shifting rod, whereby the latter is moved in theopposite direction and the detent pawls are allowed to engage with theratchet wheels.

m represents weights whereby the movement of the ratchet wheels isreversed and the pointers are returned to 0 on the dials. Each of theseweights is attached by a cord 71 to a drum it formed on the front sideof the ratchet wheel. Upon rotatingthe ratchet wheel in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 7 by means of the trip lever, the cord 91 is woundupon the drum n and the weight is raised. Upon moving the pawl of thetrip lever out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and releasing thedetent pawls from the ratchet wheels, the descent of the weights causesthe ratchet wheels to turn simultaneously backward until all thepointers have reached the place of beginning.

0 represents a case which incloscs the mechanism for recording thenumber of games played on the pool table. The case 0 is arrangedunderneath the case I) inclosing the ball registering mechanism andconsists essentially of a top and bottom 0 0, front and rear walls 0 oand side walls 0 The case 0 is preferably supported from the pool tableand ease D by hangers 0.

P represents an indicator wheel which registers the number of games.This wheel is arranged transversely in the front portion of the case 0and is provided with an inner and an outer row of ratchet teeth p p onits rear side while its periphery is provided with numerals from Oupward. The upper portion of the indicator wheel projects into anopening 13 formed in the top of the case 0 so that only one of thenumerals on the periphery of the indicator wheel is visible at one time.The opening 13 is preferably covered with glass to prevent tamperingwith the indicator wheel. The indicator wheel is secured to the rear endof a short shaft g which is journaled in the front wall of the case 0and provided with a flat-sided key stem 9' on its front end.

Sis a trip lever whereby the indicator wheel is rotated forwardly forrecording the games. This trip lever is arranged lengthwise in the case0 and pivoted between its ends to a depending bracket 5 secured to thetop of the case 0. The front arm 8' of the trip lever S is provided witha pawl s which engages with the inner ratchet teeth of the indicatorwheel. The rear arm 3" of the trip lever is adapted to project throughan opening 5 formed in the top of the case 0. Upon depressing the reararm of the trip lever S, the pawl 011 its front arm is raised and movesthe indicator wheel forward one number. Upon releasing the rear arm, thepawl is again returned to its normal position by a spring a secured withits ends to the front arm of the trip lever S and IIO the bottom of thecase 0. 5 represents a detent pawl pivoted to the front wall of the case0 and engaging with the outer teeth 13 of the indicator wheel wherebythe latter is held against backward movement.

T represents the triangular frame in which the pool balls are inclosedfor the purpose of placing them upon the table. This frame is providedwith a removable bottom t having cleats t t on two of its sides, wherebythe frame is guided upon the movable bottom. The cleats t of the bottomare provided with two handles 25 23 whereby the bottom and framecontaining the balls may be carried. The triangular frame and its bottomare placed upon the case 0 underneath the opening in the bottom of thecase D so that the balls discharged from thelatter will drop into theframe. The triangular frame is held in its proper position underneaththe case D by two cleats u bearing against two sides of the bottom ofthe ball frame. Upon removing the frame and its bottom from the case 0,the rear arm of the trip lever S rises up above the top of the case andupon replacing the frame and its bottom upon this case, the rear arm ofthe trip lever is depressed, thereby causing the indicator wheel to beoperated and to register a game. This registration is made every timethe frame is removed from and replaced upon the case 0.

In playing pool, each of the players selects one of the dials toregister the balls which he may win. Before shooting, each player shiftsthe board and delivery tube by means of the handle I so that the ballswhich he secures may be registered upon his dial.

The number on the indicator wheel which is Visible through the openingin the top of the case 0 indicates the total number of games played. Inorder to turn the indicator wheel to the place of beginning, a keyhaving a flatsided socket is applied to the stem 0 of the shaft (1 andthe latter is then turned forward until 0 appears through the opening inthe case.

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination with the pockets of a pooltable, the delivery tube and the tracks whereby the balls are carriedfrom the pockets into said tube, of a shaft having a pointer at one end,a ratchet wheel secured to the opposite end of the shaft and providedwith an outer row of teeth on its periphery and an inner row of teeth onone of its sides, a trip lever extending into the delivery tube andprovided with a pawl engaging with the inner row of teeth, and a detentpawl engaging with the outer row of teeth, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the pockets of a pool table, the delivery tube,and the tracks whereby the balls are carried from the pockets into saidtube, of a shaft havinga pointer, a ratchet wheel securedto the shaftand provided With a drum,a trip lever extending into the delivery tubeand provided with a pawl engaging with the ratchet wheel, whereby thewhereby the ratchet wheel is moved backward when released from thedetent pawl, substantially as set forth. l

3. The combination with the pockets of a pool table and the tracksconnected with said pockets, of a movable delivery tube receiving theballs from said tracks, a series of stationary indicators, and a triplever mounted on the delivery tube and adapted to operate either of theindicators upon shifting the delivery tube, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination with the pockets of a pool table and the tracksconnecting said pockets, of a delivery tube movably connected with saidtracks, a series of indicators each of which is provided with a ratchetwheel, a trip lever mounted upon the delivery tube and having one armextending into said tube, a pawl mounted upon the other arm of the triplever and adapted to engage with any one of the ratchet wheels, and aguide rod whereby the pawl is engaged and disengaged from the ratchetwheels upon shifting the de livery tube, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the pockets of a pool table and the tracksconnecting said pockets, of a delivery tube movably connected with saidtracks, a series of indicators each of which is provided with a ratchetwheel, a trip lever mounted upon the delivery tube and having one armextending into said tube, a pawl mounted upon the other arm of the triplever and adapted to engage with any one of the ratchet wheels, and aguide rod supporting the pawl and having indented portions whereby thepawl is released, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the pockets of a pool table and the tracksconnecting said pockets, of a delivery tube movably connected with saidtracks, a series of indicators each of which is provided with a ratchetwheel, a trip lever mounted upon the delivery tube and having one armextending into said tube, a pawl mounted upon the other arm of the triplever and adapted to engage with any one of the ratchet wheels, detentpawls engaging with the ratchet wheels, and a shifting bar whereby thedetent pawls are simultaneously released, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the pockets of a pool table and the tracksconnecting said pockets, of a delivery tube movably connected with saidtracks, a case inclosing the delivery tube and provided with a slothaving notches, indicators arranged in said case and provided withratchet wheels, a trip lever mounted on said tube and provided with apawl adapted to engage with any one of the ratchet wheels, and a handlepivoted upon the delivery tube and arranged in the notched slot,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination withthe pool table and its ball deliverytubaof amovable ball frame adapted to receive the balls from said tube, asupport for said frame arranged below said tube, a trip lever projectingabove said support and adapted to be depressed by the ball frame, and anindicator operated by said trip lever, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the inclosing case provided with an opening inits top, and the ball frame provided with a removable bottom restingupon the case over said opening, of an indicator wheel arranged in saidease and provided with ratchet teeth, and a trip lever having a pawlupon one arm which engages Witness our hands this 15th day of JulyfzoLEVI F. TORREY. JEROME LA SIIA. Witnesses:

THEo. L. PoPP, BENJ. SToLZ.

